{"id":550443,"date":"2026-03-21T04:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T04:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/550443\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T04:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T04:21:08","slug":"milano-sanremo-is-a-race-where-many-scenarios-are-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/550443\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cMilano-Sanremo is a race where many scenarios are possible\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\u201cI skipped Milano-Sanremo<\/a> for a few years, but I definitely wanted to start there again this season,\u201d he said in the team\u2019s preview<\/a>, pointing to a return driven by intent rather than obligation.A different kind of favourite<\/p>\n

Van Aert\u2019s position heading into the race is clear. He is not arriving as the dominant figure, but neither is he stepping back from the fight. \u201cI\u2019m not starting as the top favourite, but my goal is to win the race,\u201d he said, before adding: \u201cI absolutely believe in my chances.\u201d<\/p>\n

That balance reflects the reality of modern Sanremo. It is no longer a race that can be reduced to one rider imposing himself. Even Pogacar\u2019s attempts to force the race open on the Cipressa have not been enough to guarantee separation. The finale has become a contest of survival, positioning, and timing rather than pure strength.<\/p>\n

That is where Van Aert sees his opportunity. \u201cMilano-Sanremo is a race where many scenarios are possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Form, timing and a broader objective<\/p>\n

His return also sits within a wider context. This is not a one-off target, but the beginning of a decisive Classics block. \u201cIt\u2019s the start of an important month with many top classics. I hope to be competitive everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

The preparation reflects that outlook. Appearances at Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico have been used not to peak, but to build towards this period. \u201cOverall, I\u2019m satisfied with how I felt during those races,\u201d Van Aert said. \u201cI had a good week at Tirreno-Adriatico, where I was able to test myself several times.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is no overstatement, only clarity. \u201cI\u2019ve done everything I can to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strength in numbers, not just one leader<\/p>\n

If Van Aert represents one path to victory, Visma\u2019s lineup suggests they are not relying on just one.<\/p>\n

With Matteo Jorgenson<\/a> and Christophe Laporte both arriving in strong form, the team brings multiple riders capable of influencing the decisive moments of the race. That depth allows them to react rather than commit early.Head of Racing Grischa Niermann<\/a> made that point directly. \u201cWe can rely on a strong group,\u201d he said. \u201cIn addition to Wout, riders like Matteo and Christophe have shown in recent races that they are in good form.\u201d<\/p>\n

That opens up more than one scenario in the finale. \u201cWith them, we can certainly play a role in the finale,\u201d Niermann added, underlining a collective approach rather than a single focal point.<\/p>\n

Playing the race, not forcing it<\/p>\n

That is where Visma\u2019s strategy diverges from the teams expected to drive the race from distance. They are not ignoring the likelihood of an aggressive Cipressa. But they are not building everything around initiating it either. Instead, their strength lies in reading the race as it develops and placing riders in the right positions when it matters most.<\/p>\n

Van Aert\u2019s final reflection hints at that awareness. \u201cI really enjoyed watching last year\u2019s exciting edition, so it\u2019s extra motivating to be back at the start soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has seen how the race can unfold when the expected script breaks down. He has seen how close the margins are when the strongest riders are forced into direct confrontation.<\/p>\n

This time, he returns with a team built to navigate that uncertainty. And in a race where the decisive moment is rarely predictable, that may be the most valuable asset of all.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI skipped Milano-Sanremo for a few years, but I definitely wanted to start there again this season,\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":550444,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,143075,47944,128988,82,130976,12290],"class_list":["post-550443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-grischa-niermann","tag-matteo-jorgenson","tag-milano-sanremo","tag-sports","tag-team-visma-lease-a-bike","tag-wout-van-aert"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=550443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/550444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=550443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=550443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=550443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}